Green, pink and purple: Astronomers reveal the surprising true colors of white dwarf stars
University of Warwick astronomers have shown that white dwarf stars can glow in a range of colors, including the first star ever found that would appear green to the human eye.
Astronomers have unveiled the unexpected colors of white dwarf stars, challenging the long-held belief that they can only glow orange, white or blue. University of Warwick researchers discovered that certain white dwarfs can appear in shades of green, pink, cyan, yellow and purple. White dwarfs are the remnants of sun-like stars that have reached the end of their lives, and their color typically corresponds to their temperature.
Cooler white dwarfs emit orange or red light, while hotter ones appear blue or white. However, the research shows that the density of these stars' atmospheres plays a crucial role in determining their color. When white dwarfs contain trace elements such as carbon, calcium and sodium, their atmospheres absorb light across a wider range of colors, resulting in unexpected hues.
This phenomenon is particularly evident in the case of WD J1330+6435, a white dwarf with a green appearance due to the presence of calcium, lithium and sodium. The study also identified a reddest star ever recorded, WD J1011+2845, which has a deep pink glow caused by a carbon-rich atmosphere that distorts the star's light. The findings challenge the common misconception that white dwarfs are typically blue, and underline the importance of considering a star's spectrum to reveal its true color.
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